Crook offered police £500 to avoid arrest

A PROLIFIC criminal offered police a £500 bribe when they tried to arrest him for burglary.

Jai Stead, 33, of no fixed address, was caught breaking into a home in Southend – one of a string of burglary and drugs offences he admitted before Basildon Crown Court.

Charlotte Davison, prosecuting, told the court Stead’s rucksack was stuffed with £19,000 of designer watches when he was arrested on February 2.

He tried to flee the officers, then offered the arresting officer £500 to let him go.

The court was told Stead also burgled a house in Hornby Avenue, Westcliff, on January 31, smashing a glass panel in the back door, then reaching in and undoing the lock.

When the owner returned from work at 1pm with her 20-monthold baby she found Stead had ransacked every room in the house and taken jewellery and cameras worth £895. Stead was identified from blood left at the scene.

When Stead was arrested two days later, he had 7.4gms of cannabis, 2.7gms of cocaine and a flick-knife on him.

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He told police another burglar had asked him to look after the watches until they found someone to sell them too.

Police later found the watches had been stolen from a house in Alexandra Road, Southend a few days earlier. The court heard Stead had previous convictions for robbery and burglary dating back to the Nineties.

His lawyer, Matthew Bone, told the court Stead’s life of crime had begun at a young age.

Last year, he had met a new partner and tried to change his ways.

The Southend burglarY was carried out after the relationship broke down and he was on the run from police over another matter.

Mr Bone said: “My client accepts these are serious. He has an unenviable list of previous convictions.

“He has said to me, ‘I am 33 and I have had enough of this life and want to change.’ “He had a difficult and traumatic childhood and as an adult, has suffered substance abuse, bereavement and instability and recently has been homeless.

“He fully appreciates the harm he caused to the woman whose house he burgled and feels awful about invading her privacy.”

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Comments (20)

another joker..... 500 quid !!! maybe if he offered 5 grand, or a couple of those watches he might have got a result....... lets face it, all that work for a suspended sentence was hardly worth the effort.....

another joker..... 500 quid !!! maybe if he offered 5 grand, or a couple of those watches he might have got a result....... lets face it, all that work for a suspended sentence was hardly worth the effort.....pembury53

another joker..... 500 quid !!! maybe if he offered 5 grand, or a couple of those watches he might have got a result....... lets face it, all that work for a suspended sentence was hardly worth the effort.....

Score: 12

Nebs says...2:43pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?

Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?Nebs

Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?

Score: 22

DogsMessInLeigh says...2:45pm Tue 29 Apr 14

So he was.. 1: On the run already. 2: many previous convictions(robbery inc) 3: Had a Knife 4: Was captured with the booty and Drugs 5: Resisting arrest. 6: Bribery 7: and so much stuff we not been told about... 8: Banged to rights. and gets away virtually scott free....Remarkable.

So he was..
1: On the run already.
2: many previous convictions(robbery inc)
3: Had a Knife
4: Was captured with the booty and Drugs
5: Resisting arrest.
6: Bribery
7: and so much stuff we not been told about...
8: Banged to rights.
and gets away virtually scott free....Remarkable.DogsMessInLeigh

So he was.. 1: On the run already. 2: many previous convictions(robbery inc) 3: Had a Knife 4: Was captured with the booty and Drugs 5: Resisting arrest. 6: Bribery 7: and so much stuff we not been told about... 8: Banged to rights. and gets away virtually scott free....Remarkable.

Score: 28

profondo asbo says...3:01pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Nebs wrote…

Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?

go easy on him, after all his 12 month relationship just broke up

[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote:
Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?[/p][/quote]go easy on him, after all his 12 month relationship just broke upprofondo asbo

Nebs wrote…

Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?

go easy on him, after all his 12 month relationship just broke up

Score: 7

supermadmax says...3:26pm Tue 29 Apr 14

"A PROLIFIC criminal" "offered the arresting officer £500 to let him go" I wonder how many times he has done this successfully before.

"A PROLIFIC criminal" "offered the arresting officer £500 to let him go"
I wonder how many times he has done this successfully before.supermadmax

"A PROLIFIC criminal" "offered the arresting officer £500 to let him go" I wonder how many times he has done this successfully before.

Score: 8

railfan235 says...4:32pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Outstanding he gets away scott free but hang on a sec dont this contrbute to the curropt system we have in this country but when we drop a fag end on the floor the courts want to bang us up for it for 3 years

Outstanding he gets away scott free but hang on a sec dont this contrbute to the curropt system we have in this country but when we drop a fag end on the floor the courts want to bang us up for it for 3 yearsrailfan235

Outstanding he gets away scott free but hang on a sec dont this contrbute to the curropt system we have in this country but when we drop a fag end on the floor the courts want to bang us up for it for 3 years

Score: 9

Nebs says...4:33pm Tue 29 Apr 14

profondo asbo wrote…

Nebs wrote…

Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?

go easy on him, after all his 12 month relationship just broke up

You haven't just applied to be a magistrate have you?

[quote][p][bold]profondo asbo[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote:
Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?[/p][/quote]go easy on him, after all his 12 month relationship just broke up[/p][/quote]You haven't just applied to be a magistrate have you?Nebs

profondo asbo wrote…

Nebs wrote…

Suspended sentence, beggars belief. What was the name of the judge?

go easy on him, after all his 12 month relationship just broke up

You haven't just applied to be a magistrate have you?

Score: 6

MilesBond says...4:41pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Must have bunged the judge £500

Must have bunged the judge £500MilesBond

Must have bunged the judge £500

Score: 9

Discouraged says...4:46pm Tue 29 Apr 14

According to the Home secretary those caught carrying a knife should expect to go to prison, but carrying a knife, attempting to bribe a police officer, carrying out mutiple burglaries, carrying drugs does not: NAME THE JUDGE>

According to the Home secretary those caught carrying a knife should expect to go to prison, but carrying a knife, attempting to bribe a police officer, carrying out mutiple burglaries, carrying drugs does not: NAME THE JUDGE>Discouraged

According to the Home secretary those caught carrying a knife should expect to go to prison, but carrying a knife, attempting to bribe a police officer, carrying out mutiple burglaries, carrying drugs does not: NAME THE JUDGE>

Score: 16

John Bull 40 says...5:06pm Tue 29 Apr 14

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.John Bull 40

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.

Score: -1

Howard Cháse says...5:25pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Judge Letemoff presiding again?

Judge Letemoff presiding again?Howard Cháse

Judge Letemoff presiding again?

Score: 6

Adrenaline_Junkie says...5:49pm Tue 29 Apr 14

As long as he don't break into anymore houses then I don't see the problem. He can always start up shoplifting I suppose.

As long as he don't break into anymore houses then I don't see the problem. He can always start up shoplifting I suppose.Adrenaline_Junkie

As long as he don't break into anymore houses then I don't see the problem. He can always start up shoplifting I suppose.

Score: -7

Kim Gandy says...6:06pm Tue 29 Apr 14

John Bull 40 wrote…

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.

Oh well that makes it all right then.

[quote][p][bold]John Bull 40[/bold] wrote:
He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.[/p][/quote]Oh well that makes it all right then.Kim Gandy

John Bull 40 wrote…

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.

Oh well that makes it all right then.

Score: 1

iain beag says...9:35pm Tue 29 Apr 14

MilesBond wrote…

Must have bunged the judge £500

Since when did we have classy judges? I'd have thought a couple of pints down the "Last Post" would have been sufficient.

[quote][p][bold]MilesBond[/bold] wrote:
Must have bunged the judge £500[/p][/quote]Since when did we have classy judges?
I'd have thought a couple of pints down the "Last Post" would have been sufficient.iain beag

MilesBond wrote…

Must have bunged the judge £500

Since when did we have classy judges? I'd have thought a couple of pints down the "Last Post" would have been sufficient.

Score: 1

BasildonDond says...10:10pm Tue 29 Apr 14

It's about time Judges grow some balls and punish these excuse for human beings. They're scumbags and cause so much misery to their victims

It's about time Judges grow some balls and punish these excuse for human beings. They're scumbags and cause so much misery to their victimsBasildonDond

It's about time Judges grow some balls and punish these excuse for human beings. They're scumbags and cause so much misery to their victims

Score: 7

sesibollox says...6:52am Wed 30 Apr 14

BasildonDond wrote…

It's about time Judges grow some balls and punish these excuse for human beings. They're scumbags and cause so much misery to their victims

Bring back public Birching, for burgling scum..

[quote][p][bold]BasildonDond[/bold] wrote:
It's about time Judges grow some balls and punish these excuse for human beings. They're scumbags and cause so much misery to their victims[/p][/quote]Bring back public Birching, for burgling scum..sesibollox

BasildonDond wrote…

It's about time Judges grow some balls and punish these excuse for human beings. They're scumbags and cause so much misery to their victims

Bring back public Birching, for burgling scum..

Score: 4

pembury53 says...8:16am Wed 30 Apr 14

Discouraged wrote…

According to the Home secretary those caught carrying a knife should expect to go to prison, but carrying a knife, attempting to bribe a police officer, carrying out mutiple burglaries, carrying drugs does not: NAME THE JUDGE>

a 'flick-knife' no less..... doubt he needed that to peel his apple... i thought carrying one of those was an immediate custodial decades ago ?

[quote][p][bold]Discouraged[/bold] wrote:
According to the Home secretary those caught carrying a knife should expect to go to prison, but carrying a knife, attempting to bribe a police officer, carrying out mutiple burglaries, carrying drugs does not: NAME THE JUDGE>[/p][/quote]a 'flick-knife' no less..... doubt he needed that to peel his apple... i thought carrying one of those was an immediate custodial decades ago ?pembury53

Discouraged wrote…

According to the Home secretary those caught carrying a knife should expect to go to prison, but carrying a knife, attempting to bribe a police officer, carrying out mutiple burglaries, carrying drugs does not: NAME THE JUDGE>

a 'flick-knife' no less..... doubt he needed that to peel his apple... i thought carrying one of those was an immediate custodial decades ago ?

Score: 5

Adrenaline_Junkie says...10:19am Wed 30 Apr 14

Kim Gandy wrote…

John Bull 40 wrote…

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.

Oh well that makes it all right then.

Of course it does Kim. Sorry goes along away in this day and age. Have you seen the amount of people that no longer have a basic set of manners? Of course i'm not saying you don't though. But back to the article, I think this man has the chance to turn his life around. Maybe he can find a job, or even start a career in a lower risk crime such as shoplifting. Big money can be made in that if you play your cards right.

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]John Bull 40[/bold] wrote:
He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.[/p][/quote]Oh well that makes it all right then.[/p][/quote]Of course it does Kim. Sorry goes along away in this day and age. Have you seen the amount of people that no longer have a basic set of manners? Of course i'm not saying you don't though.
But back to the article, I think this man has the chance to turn his life around. Maybe he can find a job, or even start a career in a lower risk crime such as shoplifting. Big money can be made in that if you play your cards right.Adrenaline_Junkie

Kim Gandy wrote…

John Bull 40 wrote…

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.

Oh well that makes it all right then.

Of course it does Kim. Sorry goes along away in this day and age. Have you seen the amount of people that no longer have a basic set of manners? Of course i'm not saying you don't though. But back to the article, I think this man has the chance to turn his life around. Maybe he can find a job, or even start a career in a lower risk crime such as shoplifting. Big money can be made in that if you play your cards right.

Score: -1

beaulocks says...10:58pm Wed 30 Apr 14

Adrenaline_Junkie wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

John Bull 40 wrote…

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.

Oh well that makes it all right then.

Of course it does Kim. Sorry goes along away in this day and age. Have you seen the amount of people that no longer have a basic set of manners? Of course i'm not saying you don't though. But back to the article, I think this man has the chance to turn his life around. Maybe he can find a job, or even start a career in a lower risk crime such as shoplifting. Big money can be made in that if you play your cards right.

Come on folks, everyone deserves a second chance. I think you should all get off his case he is already having a hard time by the sounds of it. We should all learn to forgive.

[quote][p][bold]Adrenaline_Junkie[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]John Bull 40[/bold] wrote:
He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.[/p][/quote]Oh well that makes it all right then.[/p][/quote]Of course it does Kim. Sorry goes along away in this day and age. Have you seen the amount of people that no longer have a basic set of manners? Of course i'm not saying you don't though.
But back to the article, I think this man has the chance to turn his life around. Maybe he can find a job, or even start a career in a lower risk crime such as shoplifting. Big money can be made in that if you play your cards right.[/p][/quote]Come on folks, everyone deserves a second chance. I think you should all get off his case he is already having a hard time by the sounds of it.
We should all learn to forgive.beaulocks

Adrenaline_Junkie wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

John Bull 40 wrote…

He did say he was sorry, through his solicitor.

Oh well that makes it all right then.

Of course it does Kim. Sorry goes along away in this day and age. Have you seen the amount of people that no longer have a basic set of manners? Of course i'm not saying you don't though. But back to the article, I think this man has the chance to turn his life around. Maybe he can find a job, or even start a career in a lower risk crime such as shoplifting. Big money can be made in that if you play your cards right.

Come on folks, everyone deserves a second chance. I think you should all get off his case he is already having a hard time by the sounds of it. We should all learn to forgive.

Score: 1

beaulocks says...11:02pm Wed 30 Apr 14

I would also like to add that even by the headline you can see there is some good in him and is worth the time and money to rehabilitate him. £500 was a very generous offer, normally a 2er does it. This alone is worth maybe us all cutting the guy a bit of slack.

I would also like to add that even by the headline you can see there is some good in him and is worth the time and money to rehabilitate him.
£500 was a very generous offer, normally a 2er does it. This alone is worth maybe us all cutting the guy a bit of slack.beaulocks

I would also like to add that even by the headline you can see there is some good in him and is worth the time and money to rehabilitate him. £500 was a very generous offer, normally a 2er does it. This alone is worth maybe us all cutting the guy a bit of slack.

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